Australia - Interesting Things

science
Interesting things abound about Australia. It is a unique continent being isolated from the other land masses for millions of years. Animals have evolved with unusual behaviors. The cute, tiny Antichenus gets so high on testosterone that the little fellow doesn't eat or drink. He mates until he dies.

The ugliest fish live in the deep sea off Australia's coast. They have large eyes, a necessity where light is almost total nonexistent. Land creatures have evolved where some beauty is required to facilitate mating. living in the darkest depths means seeing your mate is not so important, but large eyes, huge jaws and venomous spines are.

Tourists and locals know about the deadly creatures living here. Oddly, Funnelweb spiders are not dangerous to dogs, cats, mice, lizards or snakes. An unlucky human can die if bitten by this spider. Muscles in our bodies fibrillate. Unsynchronized contraction of heart muscles can kill us.

Bundaberg is the home of the world's oldest tagged turtle. X23103 is a flatback turtle. The tag was put on in 1976 and she has been tracked ever since. The old lady continues on her way at the age of 60 years.

Europe is well known for its stinging nettles. Children try all ways to stop the painful sting. Australia has the little known Gympie-Gympie stinging nettle. If its large leaves are just touched by human skin a part of the leaf breaks off and embeds itself so that it cannot be removed. It is a painful reminder to steer clear of it.

Forget Brazil and the rest of South America, Australia has the last remaining regions of wilderness. Cape york on Queensland is virtually untouched native vegetation. It has mangrove swamps, wetlands, tropical raingforests and eucalyptus wooded savannahs, home to ancient wildlife.

The longest "range" of volcanoes stretches down the eastern seaboard from Queensland's Pinnacle Rock all the way down to Melbourne. It is three times longer than the Yellowstone National Park volcanic track in the U.S.